The King of Curses

Chapter 363 "Does Miss An prefer cats or dogs?"

Where exactly is He going?

The chase between Cen Dongsheng and Yi Qingyan, and between the Heavenly Emperor and the Great Evil, quickly intensified once again.

The young man watched the figure moving between the dark cave and the passageway, and a question arose in his mind.

Although it was previously stated that they would return to retrieve the "Killing Blade," its whereabouts are known only to the Heavenly Emperor himself. And judging from the current situation, it seems they have simply returned to the state of pursuit that occurred not long ago…

At that time, the Heavenly Emperor fled directly from the highest sea of ​​clouds to the abyss at the bottom of this realm, with a clearer direction: to break the seal on the Great Evil. This time, however, it seems more aimless.

They quickly left the core area filled with malevolent energy and once again came into contact with the swirling clouds in the sky, the familiar "celestial energy" permeating their nostrils.

From the Heavenly Palace to the Abyss, and then back to the Sea of ​​Clouds from the Abyss, the Heavenly Emperor, at the forefront of the chase, ascends to the heavens and descends to the earth.

He wouldn't think he could shake them off this way. Perhaps this roundabout way was the only way to reach his destination, or perhaps there were other unknown traps; after all, this was His territory.

Cen Dongsheng observed silently for a while longer and noticed some clues:
The monstrous, tumor-like body of the Great Demon shrank for a period of time after crashing into the sea of ​​clouds formed by immortal energy, much like a locust touching salt water.

However, this state did not last long. Mere unclaimed energy could not possibly harm a demon of this level. The great evil quickly adapted to the environment and began to absorb immortal energy in return.

As the wind rose and the clouds moved, air currents surged from all directions. Thousands of mouths opened up on the giant sphere, swallowing clouds and spitting out mist, wantonly absorbing the surrounding immortal energy, and then exhaling billowing black smoke, which in turn eroded the environment.

Unbeknownst to them, this world, which seemed to be shrouded in eternal daylight, began to dim and become gloomy at a visible speed.

Cen Dongsheng looked up and saw that after being destroyed by Yi Qingyan's "dimensional devouring" and then eroded and transformed by the Great Evil, the magnificent Heavenly Palace was only one step away from collapsing.

The bright sky is being swallowed by gloomy colors, the dilapidated buildings are collapsing one after another, and the fairyland shrouded in white mist is twisted like a swaying phantom.

Is the Heavenly Emperor deliberately luring that demon to wreak havoc on the world?
But what's the point of doing this?
As a master in the field of spatial interference, Yi Qingyan had a more acute sense of this. When Cen Dongsheng was confused, she came to the man's side and whispered the answer.

"The world is changing... it's turning back to its 'original state'."

“...'Original appearance'?”

"This place has been divided into two halves. One half has been transformed by immortal energy, and the other half by the evil energy of the great demon. When I was trying to destroy this place before, I felt something was strange. It was like the point of application of force was wrong, and I couldn't exert any force. It seems that what we see is just an illusion covering it."

Cen Dongsheng suddenly realized.

The mythical concept of "pure air rising and turbid air sinking" is deeply ingrained in people's minds, so he initially felt that it was quite natural for celestial beings to live above the sea of ​​clouds and for demons to live in the abyss.

But since the immortals in myths and legends are essentially ancient spellcasters, the places they live in are naturally based on the modification of the original planetary environment, just like modern humans build cities on continents.

"The Heavenly Emperor is trying to return this world to its original state... So, where is this place?"

*
Tianhai City, Headquarters of the Supernatural Working Committee.

On the top floor of a high-rise building over fifty stories high, An Zhizhen, dressed in a women's suit, stood alone in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, her deep eyes looking down at the city below, which looked like building blocks and the bustling crowds that resembled ants.

No one knows what she is thinking; even those closest to her can only guess at it.

"Dong dong."

A respectful knock sounded on the door of the empty office.

"Come in."

An Zhizhen turned around and saw her secretary walking in carrying a stack of documents.

Kong Yinlian put the things down, then skillfully poured a cup of coffee and placed it in front of the woman.

An Zhizhen gracefully sat down in her office chair, her slender, pale fingers tapping lightly twice on the desk. She tilted her head slightly, watching her secretary's movements, and softly praised her:

Your skills are getting better and better.

"I am grateful for your guidance."

"I didn't do anything. Excessive humility indicates a distorted self-perception, which is not good, is it?"

"...Yes, I will keep it in mind."

Kong Yinlian paused slightly, but her reply remained respectful.

She could tell from the woman's tone that there was a smile, which meant that the other party was in a good mood... So next, it was time for the work report.

However, just as Kong Yinlian cleared her throat and was about to speak, she suddenly noticed that An Zhizhen's gaze slid from her face to her coffee cup.

She was looking elsewhere.

Kong Yinlian was taken aback. Following An Zhizhen's gaze, she saw the woman staring blankly at a corner of the office.

There was nothing there.

At least... with her current "Level 2" curse master's eyes and spiritual senses, she couldn't see anything.

Suddenly, a chill ran down Kong Yinlian's spine, and cold sweat broke out on her back.

How is this going?

Consultant An would never do something meaningless...

"Wait a moment. Yinlian, you can go out now."

An Zhizhen's gaze returned to her secretary, a gentle smile appearing on her lips.

Kong Yinlian paused for a moment, then immediately excused herself and left the room.

……

After the secretary disappeared, An Zhizhen picked up her steaming coffee cup again.

She watched the dark, silky liquid ripple in the sunlight, reflecting off the woman's flawless face.

After a while, she said softly:
"I apologize that I cannot greet our distinguished guest in advance."

An Zhizhen seemed to be talking to herself, but from that corner—a corner of the office that should have been empty—came a clear and melodious voice responding to her words.

"Sorry, I came uninvited."

step.

Snow-white bare feet appeared silently, stepping onto the soft, bright red carpet, leaving a delicate silhouette.

Two steps.

The silver bells worn on her ankles jingled melodiously, like the gentle murmur of a mountain spring.

Three steps.

The fragrance of camellias wafted through the office.

It's a delicate fragrance, yet it has an incredible presence; in an instant, it feels as if your entire being is immersed in it...

I can't even smell the aroma of coffee anymore.

An Zhizhen rarely showed a helpless expression. She put down her coffee cup and stared at the girl in the white dress who had suddenly appeared in front of her desk.

Her dark hair was elegantly styled in an updo, adorned with a camellia that was about to fade. Her skirt seemed to be damp with the morning mist, clinging to her thin fabric and revealing glimpses of her alluring, fair skin.

—The evil god.

An ancient deity calling himself Loujia interfered with Cen Dongsheng's choice of lover during the Feast of Bliss. While this elevated Dongsheng's spiritual realm, it also left a wound on the man that would never heal.

An Zhizhen's expression was melancholy. The bright sunlight shining through the back window fell on the woman with long, straight black hair and then disappeared, as if dissolving into the deep darkness.

The light in her pupils flickered uncertainly.

"Hmm... Cen Dongsheng comes here often, doesn't he?"

Lou Jiaqiong's nose twitched slightly. She put her hands behind her back and swayed with each step, like a child curiously looking around in the street at a rally, pacing around the office with an innocent air.

“I can smell his scent…right, he usually comes in from the doorway, then stops in that direction, and then…”

The girl in the white dress blushed slightly, and her dark pupils sparkled.

"Hmm, where is the strongest smell? On the sofa, on the desk, by the French windows... Hey, is it sometimes under the desk too?"

Whether joking or seriously searching for the mark and trace that man had left in the office, Loujia circled the office twice before finally arriving at An Zhizhen's side.

Unbeknownst to them, the girl... or rather, the deity who merely maintained the appearance of a "girl," had come to a dangerous distance from the woman.

She leaned down, her nostrils flaring, almost letting her face touch that long, jet-black hair.

"However, if we're talking about the strongest scent, it's definitely on you, Miss An."

Loujia squinted, as if completely immersed in the scent, her rosy lips parted slightly, revealing a row of pearly white teeth.

"Is spying on people's private lives a peculiar habit of the gods?"

An Zhizhen didn't even raise her eyes, and asked indifferently.

"It's just my personal hobby."

"So, what if you sniff around my territory like a little dog?"

"Oh dear, that's really rude~ although there's nothing wrong with it..."

Loujia straightened up again, her bright eyes staring directly at An Zhizhen, as if trying to prove that what she said was true. She puffed out her youthful chest.

“I simply long to get closer to him, and to both of you. Our relationship shouldn’t be limited to this; there’s a possibility of ‘going to the next level,’ which is why I keep coming back.”

"Oh?"

“You two… no, I should say three of you, you are the strongest ‘family’ in human history, from ancient times to the present, since the birth of the ‘family’ relationship.”

Loujia spread her arms wide with a serious expression. Because of her slender and petite figure, this gesture made the evil god look more like a little girl.

"There are currently vacancies in this family, and I can fill that gap."

"Someone's missing?" An Zhizhen tapped her cheek with her finger, adopting a more relaxed posture, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Who's missing?"

“I’m the older sister, Qingyan is the younger sister, and Dongsheng can be the older or younger brother. As for children, they will come naturally in the future. I don’t think we need outsiders at all…”

"—Of course, it's my parents!"

Loujia maintained his outstretched arms posture, his expression so serious that it seemed he was about to embrace An Zhizhen at any moment.

“I can be your mother…”

"That won't work."

An Zhizhen never expected to encounter someone who constantly talked about "becoming so-and-so's mother." She thought casually and refused.

“Our family of three doesn’t need a ruler.”

The relationship between siblings is equal, but parents occupy a higher position in the family, so it's better not to have them in the first place.

Of course, for ordinary families, parents would find it hard to part, but she, An Zhizhen, and Yi Qingyan were brought together under the same roof by chance, and their relationship was unusual.

"What I really need is a pet..."

"—Pets are fine too!"

Loujia interrupted An Zhizhen without hesitation, and, seizing the opportunity, loudly replied that in order to join the so-called strongest family, the evil god did not care about his own dignity.

This shameless attitude actually made An Zhizhen laugh from the bottom of her heart.

"Does Miss An prefer cats or dogs? I guess dogs, since dogs are the most loyal companions to humans."

Loujia clenched her little hands into fists and waved them by her cheeks. She parted her red lips slightly and began to imitate a dog's bark with a serious expression.

"Wang! Wang Wang!"

Considering the noble status and immense power of the person before them, and witnessing this shameless and undignified performance, it is nothing short of absurd.

However, so-called "dignity" and "shame" are not innate, but rather created by social culture and customs. Perhaps God really doesn't care about these things.

...No, that's not right.

If the rulers of ancient times truly didn't care about dignity, then no evil god would have been so eager to destroy humanity simply because he saw his former slave race ruling the land after waking up.

According to Dongsheng, there is more than one evil god who has such thoughts.

While pondering the situation, An Zhizhen half-heartedly dealt with this evil god who had delivered himself to her doorstep.

"So, what value will you offer us? If you want to be a pet, at least you should be able to bite, right?"

"Currently, the sharpness of my teeth is not yet sufficient."

The girl in the white dress stuck her fingers into her mouth, pulling her lips into a stiff curve, not caring at all how unseemly the action was.

"……Oh."

Ruja's meaning is clear: her time has not yet come—the day when the evil gods truly awaken; therefore, she has been using avatars to communicate with them until now.

"But my eyes remain bright."

The girl in the white dress pulled her saliva-covered finger from her mouth.

"Cen Dongsheng and his sister are currently in danger. They have inadvertently entered a place that was once known as the 'Heavenly Realm'."

"Although the rulers there are probably like me, not yet fully recovered... but having just been woken up, their morning grumpiness is definitely not ordinary."

"...Another evil god?"

Loujia nodded.

"If we include the monster chained to the lower levels of the Heavenly Realm, it might be two of them. However, these two are mortal enemies, so the possibility of them joining forces is unlikely."

An Zhizhen remained silent for a moment, then slowly rose from her office chair.

Where exactly is this so-called 'Heavenly Palace'?

"That's naturally outside the heavens."

Seeing her actions, Loujia laughed heartily.

Do you need me to show you the way?

(End of this chapter)